Field Trip to Enchanted Forest!

When you’re a homeschooler, life is your classroom and every where you go can be a field trip!

Today we hung out with a fellow homeschooling mom and her 5 year old boy as we headed to Salem, OR to visit the family owned and operated Enchanted Forest.

For going on 5 hours of sleep (it was a late work night last night and an early morning this morning!), the dread I had for this event far exceeded any actual stress it entailed. I was drifting off on the drive there but once my double americano kicked in I was good to go! The park was shaded and lovely, charming and quaint. Coming from the LAND of theme parks (near Orlando FL), this was a nice alternative to the massive crowds and overwhelmed senses. A true throwback theme park.

I really appreciated knowing the history of the theme park, how the founder and his family literally built and dug and painted and sculpted their way through the forest to create a magical place for families to visit. When we arrived, we were clearly unable to drag the red wagon with Verity’s carseat in it through the hilly cement trails. The founding father of the theme park, Roger Tofte, whose murals and handiwork can be seen in every corner, drove by on a scooter and accommodated us with a left behind stroller tucked away in the gift shop closet. It was like meeting a piece of history, seriously!

It’s hard to pinpoint what was the best part of the day- Ethan getting SO into the outdated “light show” through a lunch of popcorn, or he and I holding on tight in the “sled” together through his first roller coaster experience on the “White Mountain Bob Sled” (pretty intense for a 4 year old!), or watching him hop on board a ferris wheel, something he has wanted to do from the moment he ever saw one on tv. Maybe it was carrying him into the Haunted House, only to have him beg me to turn back as soon as we entered the door. I lovingly obliged. That place was creepy.

It was a really gentle, mellow day. I’m so glad I went, even on such little sleep. Ethan was a sweet gentlemen the majority of the day and truly appreciated the experience, which made it all worth it for me!

Enjoy some pics:
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